WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE 1952-1974

The Western Hockey League was a minor pro ice hockey league that operated from 1952 to 1974. Managed for most of its history by Hockey Hall of Fame member Al Leader, it was created out of the merger of the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League. During the 1960s, the WHL moved into large west coast markets like Los Angeles and San Francisco, and it was fears that the WHL would become a rival major league that finally convinced the National Hockey League to expand for the 1967-68 season.[citation needed]

In the 1965-66 and 1967-68 seasons, they played an interlocking schedule with the American Hockey League. A diluted talent pool, and the move of the NHL and World Hockey Association into many of its traditional markets forced the league to cease operations after the 1973-74 season. A few of its surviving teams were absorbed into the Central Hockey League.

The championship trophy of the WHL was the Lester Patrick Cup, which is currently on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

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  Sports

[Larry Horricks]

My Dad played for the Edmonton Flyers

[17865329]

Oops sorry, I see you had already posted about some of the WHL Canucks that were also part of their early NHL lineup.

[17865329]

And when the Canucks came into the NHL in 1970, they took some of those WHL players...Ted Taylor, Murray Hall, Len Lunde, John Schella, John Arbour, Darryl Sly, Marc Rheaume, and George Gardiner with them. Most only lasted the first season, though some played a couple with Vancouver's NHL team. Some of the veterans like Rheaume and Hall had already had cracks at the NHL with Toronto, Chicago etc.

[bulldogbarks55]

Vancouver owes Rochester two for sure and possibly three Calder Cups. Add the above-mentioned guys to the players Vancouver left in Rochester (Red Armstrong, Dick Gamble, Bronco Horvath, Les Duff, Rene Robert, Bobby Perreault and Gary "Suitcase" Smith) and you've got the makings of an AHL dynasty. I can never forgive the Canyuck management for the screwing we got here in Rochester.

[bulldogbarks55]

Cherry, working under new Rochester ownership took the '73-'74 Amerks to the AHL regular season championship. Because of the screwing the Amerks got from Vancouver I have little regard for the Vancouver Canyucks. Their is a photo of the '68-'69 WHL Patrick Cup Champion Canucks on google. On that team Barlow, Hextall, Hall, Lunde, Taylor, Harris, Cherry, Sly, Reaume, Johns, and McKenny should have worn the Red, White and Blue of the Amerks along with early Amerks Charlie Hodge and Pat Hannigan.

[bulldogbarks55]

FYI-The '68-'69 and '69-'70 Vancouver Canucks were basically the '67-'68 American Hockey League Champion Rochester Americans. In the summer of '68 the Rochester club was sold to Vancouver interests in preparation for the NHL Canucks of '70-'71. Joe Crozier, Coach/GM with the Amerks took the same role in Van. He left the Amerks a very weak roster that finished last in the AHL for the next four years. Don Cherry finally got the Amerks back on track in '72-'73 when he made the playoffs.

[nordiqueboy77]

awesome video. i'd love to see a victoria maple leafs jersey for sale

[luridplanet]

I'm still pissed about the NHL gutting the WHL when they expanded. When are Portland, Seattle and Salt Lake going to get franchises? The NBA probably bribed the league to stay out of those markets

[keeshasky2]

My brother's name is Jim Atamanenko-He was drafted by the LA Kings and played with the Portland Buckaroos in 73/74. Before that he was with Vancouver and Victoria.I am looking for footage or radio clips of games from these 3 teams.

[R Paz]

i remember listening to the salt lake golden eagles here in calif. in the the early 70`s. thanks for the memories.